If you are reading this, I presume that you love sports; that you are passionate about it.
But is that a good enough reason to consider working in the sports industry?
Or is it something that will increase your chances of being offered a job in sport?
According to a series of accomplished professionals we have talked with, it is not.
So, what should you do to work in sports?
Here is a compilation of some valuable advice given by experts in a few of the many interviews we’ve done in our YouTube channel.
Get to know yourself and tell your story
The first step is knowing yourself and being aware of the skills and experiences that you have. You need to be able to tell your story in a way that it makes you stand out from the rest. We all have a story to tell. Some of us may think theirs is not as interesting or as eventful compared to others, but all stories are unique, and they are a fundamental part of the person.
In the interview with Vanessa Tribet, co-founder and CEO of Outdooria, she commented on the steps to undertake before applying to a position, and she stressed the importance of starting the process with an evaluation of yourself and your expectations. “You need to know who you are”, she said. “If you know how to tell your story properly, you are already a step ahead”, she concluded.
The sports psychologists Gabriel Andrade also said that “you need to appreciate the experience that you have”, as that is part of who you are and have influenced you in becoming the person you are today. At first, it may not seem like it, but all experiences are relevant, especially considering the fact that skills acquired in other areas are oftentimes transferable to the sports industry.
Raphael Fiche, Senior Brand Recruiter at Adidas, talked about the importance of being able to tell your story. He says “The competition is getting more and more fierce; it is important to stand out. Your personal brand is the chance for people to get to know you”. Take your time to work on your personal brand.
Focus on the “value” that you can add to the business
Recruiters won’t hire you because you love the company you applied for, or because it was your childhood dream to work there. They will hire you only if you can bring value to the organization.
Another guest of the LIVE Interview series who spoke about that was Daniel Geey, sports and entertainment lawyer, who stressed that you have to “think about what you can offer me. (Think about) what your added value is”.
In the conversation with Pierre Ducrey, Olympic Games Operations Director at the IOC, he said it is also very important to demonstrate commitment. That means that being an expert in a field and having plenty of experience may not be enough. You must show that you care.
Step out of your comfort zone and increase your chances of getting “lucky”
Luck, many say, plays an important role not only in one’s career, but in life. But are you prepared to be lucky?
There are basically two ways to “bend” luck in your favor.
1- you’ve got to put in the work
2 - you've got to take risks
And there is an important correlation between the two: the more work you put in, the less risky it gets.
It’s certainly not a coincidence that many of the best athletes of all time were also known for being the ones who trained the most. That has certainly helped their “luck”.
However, before starting to “work hard”, make sure you’re working “right”. Basketball legend, Michael Jordan, once said: “You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.”
About taking risks, Canadian ice hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky, once said: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” So, there is no point in working hard if you are not willing to take your chances.
Thus, make sure you put in the work, but then get out of your comfort zone, and take the risk.
Daniel Geey spoke about this during his interview when he said: “Put yourself in the best position that luck finds you that little bit easier”.
Misha Sher, Global VP of Sports and Entertainment at Mediacom, also spoke about the risks that sometimes we need to take to succeed. He said that “if you don’t stick your neck out, you’ll never get anywhere in life”. It can be hard to do so, but if you are prepared, the risk of failure gets significantly lower. That’s why Misha also said: “If you want to get anywhere, you’ve got to be prepared to hustle”.
In another live interview, Pedro Trengrouse, Sports Lawyer and Business Consultant, said “The distance between success and failure is the amount of times you try”.
In short, some define luck as the point where preparation and opportunity meet. Opportunities always come.
The question is: Will you be ready to get “lucky”?
Written by: Igor Markovic, Business Associate at iWorkinSport